Football League: Southampton FC

History of Football: Southampton FC

Origins: The club was founded in 1885 by members of the St Mary’s Church of England Young Men’s Association (usually abbreviated to St Mary’s Y.M.A.). They played their first matches on The Common or at the County Cricket Ground in Northlands Road or the Antelope Cricket Ground in St Mary’s Road.

The club’s name changed to St Mary’s F.C. in 1887 and then again to Southampton St Mary’s in 1894. In 1897 they became simply Southampton F.C. and moved to a newly-built stadium – The Dell – a year later. In 2001 they moved from The Dell to St Mary’s Stadium, close to the church which first gave them their name.